Harwood Union High School 11th-graders had the third best results in
the state on the recently released New England Common Assessment
Program (NECAP) results.

Released this week, the NECAPs gauged the math, reading and writing skills of 7,140 Vermont juniors.

"Harwood did have the third best results (47 percent proficient or
above) -- tied with Champlain Valley and just behind Stowe (51 percent)
and Mt. Mansfield (47 percent). They were also in the top 10 for
reading (71 percent proficient or above) and writing (48 percent
proficient and above)," explained Michael Hock, the state's director of
assessment at the Department of Education.

In writing, 149 Harwood students were tested. Six percent of students
tested were rated at Level 4, 42 percent at Level 3, 34 percent at
Level 2 and 18 percent at Level 1 (where Levels 4 through 1 represent,
in order: proficient with distinction, proficient, partially proficient
and substantially below proficient).

In all of Vermont 7,140 students were tested for reading and 20 percent
were found to be at Level 4, 48 percent at Level 3, 20 percent at Level
2 and 12 percent at Level 1.

Statewide results for math come from 7,086 students being tested. Two
percent of students were found to be at Level 4, 28 percent at Level 3,
28 percent at Level 2 and 42 percent at Level 1.

In writing 7098 students were tested statewide. Four percent were
tested at Level 4, 35 percent at Level 3, 46 percent at Level 2 and 15
percent at Level 1.

The high school assessment results for fall 2007 were released March 10
by the Vermont Department of Education today. The results are from the
New England Common Assessment Program (NECAP) exams, given to Vermont
public school students in grade 11 for the first time this fall.

According to a press release from the Department of Education, this
year's testing results demonstrate an achievement gap persists between
boys and girls, and between students from low-income families and their
peers. In reading, girls outperform boys 75 percent to 59 percent. In
writing, that gap widens to 48 percent versus 30 percent. In
mathematics, the gap essentially disappears, with 31 percent of male
students and 29 percent of female students demonstrating proficiency.

Students from low-income households are not achieving at the same level
as their peers. In reading, only 47 percent of those students were
proficient or higher, compared to 72 percent of their peers. In
mathematics, 15 percent of those students were proficient or higher,
compared to 34 percent of their peers. In writing, 22 percent of those
students were proficient or higher, compared to 43 percent of their
peers. When both gender and family income are examined, only 14 percent
of females from low-income households are proficient in math, and only
16 percent of males from low-income households are proficient in
writing.

The NECAP exams were created in collaboration with Rhode Island and New
Hampshire. These exams are designed to specifically assess how well
Vermont students have learned the skills and content contained in
Vermont's Framework of Standards and Learning Opportunities and Grade
Expectations. This is the first year of results on the NECAP exams for
grade 11. As required under the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLBA), a
science assessment is planned for May 2008 in grades 4, 8 and 11.